Lebanese leaders today appealed to the United States to put pressure on Israel to stop the bombing of many parts of the country, which continues despite a ceasefire that has theoretically been in place since April 17.
The new tally of Israeli strikes, updated today by the country’s health ministry, stands at 2,869 deaths since the start of the war between the pro-Iranian Hezbollah group and Israel on March 2, including dozens of people killed since the ceasefire took effect.
President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaz Salam separately received US Ambassador Michel Issa ahead of new talks scheduled for May 14 and 15 in Washington between Lebanon and Israel.
President Aoun “insisted (…) on the need to put pressure on Israel to cease firing, end military operations and demolition of homes,” according to a statement from the presidency.
Nawaf Salam, for his part, asked the diplomat to “put pressure on Israel to end its persistent attacks and violations in order to establish a ceasefire,” according to his office.
Israel stepped up its strikes late this week and today called on residents to evacuate nine Lebanese communities, seven of which are in the south and two in the east of the country.
Lebanon’s national news agency ANI reported that strikes were carried out in several villages in these areas.
Reporters for the French news agency recorded shelling in several communities in the south and saw columns of smoke rising from targeted locations.
Despite the ceasefire, Israeli forces and Hezbollah have been exchanging daily fire, most notably in southern Lebanon, where Israel controls a strip about ten kilometres deep from the border.
For its part, the pro-Iranian Hezbollah said it launched attacks against the Israeli army on Lebanese territory today.
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One soldier was “killed in action” yesterday Sunday near the Lebanese border, the Israeli army said today, with casualties totalling 18 soldiers and one civilian working for the Israeli army who have been killed since the start of the war.
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Hezbollah dragged Lebanon into a new war with Israel on March 2, launching rocket attacks against Israel to avenge the death of Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed on the first day of the Israeli-American offensive against Tehran.
Israel responded by launching massive strikes and carrying out a ground invasion in the south.
“We are now facing the occupation of 68 Lebanese communities because of this war that was imposed on us,” Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said in an interview with Al Arabiya network on Sunday night.
